Prep Hoops: Orangeville girls look to new coach for turnaround

FREEPORT — Brian Hildebrand was the star center for the Orangeville boys basketball team in 1991. Now he has been charged with the task of turning around a girls program that hasn’t come close to achieving the boys' level of success.

FREEPORT — Brian Hildebrand was the star center for the Orangeville boys basketball team in 1991.

Now, 22 years after leading the Broncos to a school-record 25 wins and their last state tournament appearance in any sport, Hildebrand has been charged with the task of turning around a girls program that hasn’t come close to achieving that level of success.

Since capturing nine regional titles from 1983 to ’97, Orangeville has won only four postseason girls basketball games in 15 years. But this Broncos team might just be ready to take that next step.

“I think we’re going to have a real surprising year with this group,” Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand takes over for Fred Linker, who provided a fiery coaching style. The change has been a positive one so far for the players.

Hildebrand certainly brings a different approach, and it’s one that he believes will benefit his players.

“I’m not a screamer, I’m not a yeller, I’m just a guy that’s here to help these girls out. I think I can get a lot of work out of them that way, and I’ve already seen the progression this year out of these girls.”

Hildebrand is using the summer schedule to get better acclimated to his team, which has some key seniors and a handful of talented soon-to-be sophomores who also played key roles on a softball team that lost 10-6 in 10 innings in the sectional finals to eventual state champion Milledgeville.

Tori Clark, the second-team all-state second baseman, is one of those sophomores.

“We’ve got a lot of younger girls that step up and know what they’re doing,” Rote said. “We just have to lead them.”

“I think the combination of girls we have right now all work great together,” Hildebrand added.

While the potential is there for the Broncos to make big strides with their new coach, it won’t be easy with the amount of tough competition waiting for them in their half of the conference. With Dakota, Aquin and Forreston established as perennial powers in the NUIC East, the Broncos have their work cut out for them as they try to move up a notch.

For Hildebrand, that work has to start in the weight room.

“We’ve got to condition more,” he said. “That’s the stuff that I think is going to get us somewhere. If you have strength, your mind is strong too out there on the court. You’re going to come out and play. That’s what I expect out of these girls is to every night come out and play.”